Not Good Enough

ARGYLE assistant-manager Paul Wotton pulled no punches after the Pilgrims began their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a 3-0 home defeat by Swindon Town.

The Sky Bet League Two side opened the scoring through veteran striker Marc Richards before Argyle midfielder Ruben Lameiras hit the bar with only former Pilgrims goalkeeper Luke McCormick to beat. 

Keshi Anderson immediately doubled the lead for Swindon, who sealed the three points with a late goal from Kaiyne Woolery.

“It wasn’t good enough,” said Paul. “You can go through individual analysis of what players did or didn’t do in a game – it wasn’t good enough.

“Funnily enough, I thought we started the better team. We had a couple of good chances – Ruben slotted a couple of great balls through which we should have done better with – and we looked bright.

“We conceded a poor first goal; then Ruben has to score; and I think it’s 30 seconds later that they are 2-0 up. We are under no illusions that, for periods of the game, it wasn’t good enough.”

The one bright note on an otherwise dim night was the reappearance after injury of Jamie Ness, Antoni Sarcevic, Conor Grant and, as a second-half substitute, Niall Canavan.

Wottsy said: “They are important players and they needed minutes; they have come through it injury free. You can train and train and train but games are the only way to get your real fitness.

“They add experience and strength to the squad, which is important; we need all the players back fit. One of the bonuses of the night is that they have come through the game.”

The defeat came after encouraging League One results at Barnsley (1-1) and at home to Wimbledon (1-0), and before Saturday’s visit to bottom club Oxford United.

“It is very important that we go into the Oxford game without a hangover from this,” said Paul.

“We need to go into the Oxford game on the back of the Barnsley and Wimbledon results and performances.”